Musical (Senate) Chairs

By TChris, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 01:23:00 AM EST
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Democratic senators will be playing musical committee chairs as they prepare to begin the next legislative term. The venerable Robert Byrd, 91 and in less than perfect health, announced today that he's stepping down as chair of the Appropriations Committee. Next in line for that position is the venerable Daniel Inouye, 84. Inouye recently showed that he is no judge of character by testifying to Ted Stevens' good character during Stevens' trial, and by later predicting that Stevens' conviction will be overturned on appeal and that Stevens will win reelection. Let's hope Inouye is a better judge of government spending than he is of character.

Inouye will give up his Commerce Committee chair, which will go to John Rockefeller IV unless Rockefeller continues to chair Intelligence, when it would instead go to John Kerry unless Kerry takes Joe Biden's place as chair of the Foreign Relations Committee. Harry Ried would like to stick Joe Lieberman with the Small Business Committee chair that Kerry now holds, but Lieberman, the current chair of Homeland Security and Government Affairs, apparently thinks he still has enough clout to reject that offer.

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Musical (Senate) Chairs | 15 comments (15 topical)

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Lieberman... (5.00 / 0) (#1)
by white n az on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 12:29:13 AM EST

not if Jane Hamsher gets her way...it's obvious personal between Jane and Joe.

;-)

I think that Reid made a reasonable offer to Lieberman and allows Lieberman to save face.

I think in the end, Lieberman will caucus with the Republicans because I doubt that he intends to seek re-election in 2012 anyway and if he does caucus with the Republicans, he can join their attempts to filibuster with impugnity.

: Lieberman and the Republicans (none / 0) (#5)
by Ellis on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 01:45:43 AM EST

Plus, if Lieberman caucuses with the Republicans he can continue to badmouth the Democrats on a round the clock basis, something that will seem more appropriate from that side of the aisle.
The truth is, as much as I despise Lieberman, if I had the choice of keeping Lieberman, but in return I got to choose the Senate Majority Leader in January, I'd agree in a second.
The Democrats are going to begin Obama's tenure with total losers in leadership roles in both the House and Senate. I think failure is to be expected.

To make matters more interesting (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by cpa1 on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 07:17:11 AM EST

With approx 23,000 votes to go, Chambliss needs 85% of them to be at 50% or higher. If you look at the make up of what is left, it is not going to happen since the weighted average % of the votes in those remaining precincts is 56% for Chambliss to 46% for Martin and Buckley.

So, I am calling the election for no one and there will be a runoff. in early December.

Now, here is what I think Obama needs to say on Monday to Bush. "I will not go after your administration and impeach you and Cheney in absentia BUT I want the justice department (with a non wingnut US Atty) overseeing the runoff in Georgia and I want the justice Department under Fitzgerald to examine the vote for Ted Stevens in Alaska. I want justice in the electoral process and I don't trust Georgia or Alaska election officials. It is up to you as we are ready to go after every illegal thing you, Cheney, Gonzales et al have done and none of you will have the protection of executive privilege once you are not the executive."

If anyone wants a copy of my excel schedule, just email me. The link for the Georgia SOS is http://www.sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2008_1104/003.htm

: NPR this AM : McCain will campaign for Chambliss (none / 0) (#13)
by jawbone on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 12:55:38 PM EST

Wonder if Obama will campaign for the Dem?
I think not--what think all of you?

Hrm (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by Steve M on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 09:10:01 AM EST

Rockefeller has been awful at Intelligence. Feinstein is marginally better, I suppose, but sheesh.

How does Rockefeller stand on net neutrality? He (none / 0) (#12)
by jawbone on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 12:51:18 PM EST

was big on telco immunity--is he the same for telco profitability and thus might heed their pleas to rein the freedom of the web??

Can he do damage at Commerce?

Hhhmmm--and if Kerry is out of the Senate, more openings. Wheels within wheels.


: Rockefeller (none / 0) (#14)
by Steve M on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 01:56:52 PM EST

apparently supports net neutrality.

On NPR tonight, reporter sd. (none / 0) (#2)
by oculus on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 12:34:02 AM EST

D. Feinstein might chair the Senate intelligence committee. Note: her "insider knowledge" is her rationale for voting for FISA revise.

: heaven forbid (none / 0) (#3)
by white n az on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 12:38:56 AM EST

I think she's got her eye on replacing Ahnold in Sacramento anyway.

Di for Ca Gov? I don't think so (none / 0) (#4)
by thereyougo on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 01:32:11 AM EST

Gavin Newsom is heir apparent.

Heck with the Gov Ahnold proposing a whopping sales tax increase, I wish the election were here already.

Inouye and the rest of them should just retire. Honestly more of them should tell them to spend their last days on the rocking chair.

They really have past their moments of effectiveness. Time for change.

Ted Stevens, Pete Dominici, Robert Byrd, Jesse Helms, Strom Thurmond, Ted Kennedy, Inouye, they've got to be the oldest bunch. The country needs some young blood that can twist arms and eek out some real solutions.

I don't want to sound cold and insensitive to seniors, but hey, there are some real problems in the country that could be solved by some healthy new people.

: insensitive??? (5.00 / 3) (#6)
by landjjames on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 02:15:08 AM EST

Maybe you're not insensitive, but you are out-of-touch. Jesse Helms died July 4, 2008 and Strom hasn't been of this world since 2003. Picking on the aged is one thing, but please leave the dead alone. Snark.

: Byrd (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by liminal on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 08:53:16 AM EST

Byrd's the longest serving Senator in history, that's true, and he now has significant health problems, but he had his finest hour during the last eight years, standing up to the Bush administration, against the undue expansion of the powers of the presidency, advocating in favor of the separation of powers enshrined in the constitution, opposing the Iraq war, and the Bush administration's many abuses of the country and the Constitution.
He really has declined over the past few years - most precipitously since the death of his wife - but at least he acceded to the reality of the situation and relinquished his Appropriations chairmanship.

: I hear ya... (none / 0) (#11)
by kdog on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 09:41:16 AM EST

if there can be a minimum age to be elected to office, why not a maximum?
Part of me says age doesn't matter, character and intellect matter. Another part of me, the part of me that helps take care of my mid-80's great uncle, says with no shame that when you get that old, you lose some faculties. Fact of life. If a 34 year old is too immature to be president, is it out of bounds to suggest maybe an 80 year old is too old to be a senator?

Tchris -- did you see this?!? (none / 0) (#9)
by Exeter on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 08:55:49 AM EST

They are going to charge an EIGHT year old as an adult! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081108/ap_on_re_us/child_charged

Replacement for Senator Obama's (none / 0) (#15)
by KeysDan on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 06:01:33 PM EST

seat is shaping up in an interesting manner. Of the names bruited about for appointment by Democratic governor Rod Blagojevich, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky would be terrific. A liberal thinker and an effective legislator. The absolute worst would be Dan Hynes, comptroller for the state. Hynes is the son of Tom Hynes, former Cook County Assessor and Democratic Ward Committeeman. Hynes lost to Obama in the 2004 Democratic senate primary. Dan Hynes would seem to be more comfortable in the Republican party if it were not for his old family ties to the Democratic party. As senator, he would be a natural ally of Ben Nelson (D. sort of NE) at the most optimistic. The governor is not very popular and a Hynes appointment would bolster his lot with Mayor Daley.